New Delhi, January 25: Hindutva dialogue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was among the first proponents of the two-nation theory, which led to the division of India and formation of Pakistan, said senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. Savarkar had pitched for the division of Hindus and Muslims even before the Pakistan Resolution was passed in Lahore, Tharoor claimed. Devendra Fadnavis Questions Shiv Sena's Soft Approach on Insult of Savarkar, Says Rahul Gandhi's Comments 'Shameful'.

"The first advocate of the two-nation theory was actually VD Savarkar, as head of Hindu Mahasabha, who called upon India to recognise Hindus and Muslims as two separate nations, 3 years before Muslim League passed the Pakistan resolution in Lahore," the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram was reported as saying.

The Pakistan Resolution was adopted by the Muslim League, under the chairmanship of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in Lahore in 1940. The group had so far been deliberating on their demand for a separate homeland for Indian Muslims, which was first suggested by poet-politician Allama Muhammad Iqbal at the Allahabad session of the Muslim League in 1931.

Update by ANI

Savarkar, the late leader of the Hindu Mahasabha, is accused by the Congress of supporting the two-nation theory which led to the demarcation of undivided India upon achieving independence from the British rule. Nearly five decades after his death, Savarkar has turned into a major political issue among top Indian political parties.

While the BJP and Shiv Sena both claim to be adherents of Savarkar's ideology, the two saffron parties have been jabbing each other since the formation of Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra. The BJP has accused Sena of betraying Savarkar's principles by aligning with non-Hindutva parties - the Congress and the NCP.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 25, 2020 11:34 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).